LANCE Hohaia is recovering from a groin strain and will not be used if he has not recovered sufficiently by the weekend to ensure he can also back up against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Wellington on Friday, May 2.

MOUNT Albert and Hibiscus Coast will be strong, the Central Falcons and Taranaki weak when the national domestic competition kicks off this weekend, but between the two extremes there should be a levelling-out of abilities.